Invalid lifting device

ABSTRACT

A LIFTING DEVICE FOR INVALIDS HAS A PAIR OF PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED INVALID-SUPPORTING FRAMES. EACH OF THE FRAMES HAS A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL SECTION ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE ARMS OF AN INVALID AND A SUPPORTING MEMBER, THE MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED TO UNDERLIE AND SUPPORT THE SHOULDERS SO THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE INVALID IS CARRIED BY THE FRAMES THROUGH THE SUPPORTING MEMBERS.

March '9, 1971 J. E. MATER ETA]. 3,568,226

INVALID LIFTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 16. 1968 James E. Mafer Leo/7 L. Parker" Paul D. Ger/march 4 INVENTORS.

United States Patent 3,568,226 INVALID LIFTIN G DEVICE James E. Mater, 9621 Belinder Road, Leawood, Kans.

66206, Leon L. Parker, Kansas City, and Paul D. Gerrihardt, Overland Park, Kans.; said Parker and Geruhardt assignors to to said Mater Filed Oct. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 768,093 Int. Cl. A61g 7/10 US. Cl. -81 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lifting device for invalids has a pair of pivotally interconnected invalid-supporting frames. Each of the frames has a generally horizontal section adapted to support the arms of an invalid and a supporting member, the members being disposed to underlie and support the shoulders so that the weight of the invalid is carried by the frames through the supporting members.

This invention relates to a lifting device to be used with a hoist for supporting the weight of an invalid and permitting transfer from one position to another.

Care of invalids often requires that they be moved from place to place. This has heretofore normally been accomplished by suspending the invalid in a sling hung beneath a power-operated hoisting device. Slings of this type which support the patient from below have many disadvantages. The patient must be manually lifted to permit positioning of the sling. The body of the invalid is relatively inaccessible to nurses or other persons while the invalid is supported in the sling, requiring that the patient be dressed or otherwise attended to while he is in a sitting or a prone position.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide a device to lift and support an invalid by the arms and shoulders Without the necessity for a seat or sling.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a device that can either support the entire weight of the invalid or, alternately, permit the patient to bear some of his weight on his own feet.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an invalid lift that may be supported by commercially available hoists or may be used with an overhead track system.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a structure capable of supporting the patient in a standing position, thereby allowing nurses or other personnel full access to the lower part of the invalids body for dressing or otherwise caring for the patient.

Yet another important object of this invention is to provide an invalid-lifting device that may, if desired, be used with conventional sling-like back and seat members, the device being constructed to enable partial lifting of the invalid independently of these members so that they may be more easily placed beneath the patient.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 a is a front elevational view of a lifting device made pursuant to our present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invalid lift of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the invalid lifting device of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical crosssectional view illustrating details of the locking mechanism that secures the supporting arms to the frame members;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the pivotal connection between the frames used in our invalid lift; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale illustrating the invalid lifting device in use.

The lifting device .10 includes a pair of pivotally interconnected frames 12, each having a generally horizontal section 14 and an upright section 16. Each section 14 has a. transversely U-shaped, upwardly open plate 18 rigidly secured thereto for receiving and supporting the arm of an invalid using the device. The sections 14 each terminate in an integral, upturned portion 20 adapted to be grasped by the invalid. Upright section 16 includes a generally vertical portion 22, a section 24 extending upwardly and outwardly from the portion 22, and a section 26 extending upwardly from the section 24 and inclined toward connecting structure 28 that pivotally interconnects the frames 12. 7

Each of the sections 26 terminate in a tubular member 30 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the section. Each member 30 pivotally receives a nut and bolt assembly 32 that interconnect a pair of side plates 34 forming a part of the structure 28 The axes of pivotal movement of the frames 12 formed by the bolt assemblies 32 are parallel with one another to permit independent movement of either of the frames 112 toward and away from one another. A plate 3 6 integral with the side plates 34 interconnects the latter and has an opening 38 formed therein for attachment of the device to a boom 40 of a. hoist 42 or other supporting structure.

A supporting arm 44 extends from the vertical portions 22 of the frames 12 and is slidable therealong. A locking mechanism 46 secures each arm 44 to the corresponding frame and consists of a pin 48 that engages a selected one of a number of spaced-apart openings 50 in the tubular portion 22. A resilient member 52 yieldably biases the pins into the selected opening, thereby locking the arm 44 in position. A pad of resilient material 54, such as foam rubber or the like, is placed on the arms 44 for a cushion.

If necessary, a sling (not shown) of flexible material may be secured to each frame 12 in conventional manner to interconnect the sections '14 and to provide a seat for the invalid. A similar piece of flexible material may be secured to interconnect the portions 22 to form a backrest for the patient.

In use, the device [10 may be secured to the boom 40 of the hoist 42 which may then be raised and lowered by a piston and cylinder assembly 56. Hoist 42 is mounted on casters 58 so that the hoist 42 may be easily moved from place to place. Alternately, lifting device 10 may be suspended from an overhead track system.

When it is desired to use the invalid lifting device 10 for transporting the invalid, one of the frames 12 is placed on either side of the patient. The invalids arms are placed on the plate 18 and the upturned portions 20 may then be grasped. The supporting arms 44 are then adjusted to fit beneath the shoulders of the patient as shown in FIG. 6, the pin 48 locking the arm 44 in place by its engagement in one of the openings 50. The patient may then be lifted into a standing position, the pivotal interconnection between the frames insuring that the weight of the invalid will be borne through the arms 44 rather than through the plates 18! and sections 14. The height of the boom 40 may then be adjusted to lift the patients feet off the ground so that the invalid may be moved. Alternately, the height of the boom 40 may be adjusted so that the patient bears some of his weight on his own feet for walking therapy. It the patient is unable to bear his full weight through his shoulders, the lifting device 10 may then be used to lift his body a short distance above the object upon which he is resting in order that a sling attached to the sections 14 may be inserted beneath or behind the patient as previously described.

Thus, it can be seen that the lifting device is uniquely adapted to easily raise and transfer a patient. The patient is supported in a position which permits manipulation of the body for therapy or for dressing and undressing operations. 'Ihe patient isenabled to bear part of his weight on his own limbs to provide walking therapy.

The combination of the transversely U-shaped armrests 18 with upturned portions 20, which may be grasped by the patient, permits him to maneuver his body to aid in dressing and other operations while his weight is borne largely by his forearms. The pivotal interconnection of the two side frames adapts the lifting device to any patient, regardless of size. The arms 44 and pads 54 provide positive and comfortable support means for the body without necessity'for. difiicult to manage slings and back supports which limit the versatility of conventional invalid-supporting devices. At the same time, the underarm supporting members may be quickly and easily adjusted to positions relative to the forearm supports so that the device may be used withpersons of differing sizes and proportions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

, 1. In lifting apparatus for invalids:

an overhead support;

a pair of side frames having upper ends, each of said frameshaving a generally horizontal section adapted to support the arm of an invalid: structure pi-votally interconnecting said frames at said upper ends and suspending the frames from said support to permit swinging movement of either of said frames with respect to the other frame; and means mounted on each of said frames and extending therefrom for underlying and supporting the shoulders of an invalid whereby the weight of said invalid may be supported by said frame through said means. 2. The invention of claim 1, said structure pivotally supporting each of said frames on a separate axis, said axes being parallel to one another to permit movement of either of said frames toward and away from the other frame. 3. The invention of claim 1, each-of said frames having a generally upright section,

said horizontal sections extending from the lower end of a corresponding upright section.

4. The invention of claim 3,

said structure interconnecting said upright sections at the upper ends thereof for movement of either of said frames toward and away from the other frame.

5. The invention of claim 3,

each of said horizontal sections terminating in an upturned portion adapted to be grasped by the invalid.

6. The invention of claim 3,

said supporting means being an arm secured to each of said upright sections and extending therefrom in a generally horizontal attitude.

7. The inventionof claim 6,

said arms being movable along said upright sections toward and away from said horizontal sections; and

mechanism coupling said arms to said upright sections to permit said arms to be locked in any one of a number of positions therealong.

8. The invention of claim 7,

said mechanism being a pin on each of said arms engaging a selected one of a number of spaced-apart openings on each of said upright sections; and

a resilient member yieldably biasing said pins into said selected openings.

9. The invention of claim 6; and

. resilient padding material on said arms adapted to cushion the weight of the invalid thereagainst.

10. The invention of claim 1,

References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,818,315 12/1957 Limbach 5-81 2,792,052. 5/19 57 Johannesen 586X 3,374,493 3/1968 Herrera 581X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

